The coolest job in the world

[LexiGirl75]

Very good thread!!!

This is a great topic.

I remember in my last year of HS while we were applying for college and taking tours my then best friend swore that I would become like Freddie from tv's A Different World and get a boyfriend like Shazza Zulu. When I had decided to go to college I was going for Marine Biology and that was the only thing I had wanted to do since 10th grade. That never happened of course and life went on.

I fell in love with Manhattan and the surrounding areas about 3-4yrs ago. I would love to live there now but have decided that I wait until my children are grown to move there. That way I can experience it as a footloose and fancy-free girl.

Before moving to SoMD I have only lived in DC with the exception of a 2yr stint in Capital Heights, MD. In 2003 I was going to move to NC and my aunt talked me out of it because at the time my children were 9 and 5 and she said I didn't need to move that far from family with the children. So I stayed. Now, that I am here and the very little that I have needed my family (having these children) I pretty much feel like I can move further away and survive.

I have plans to get my degree and the job that is my dream would be to own my own non-profit organization that will consist of services geared towards helping to empower young and teen mothers who are struggling to make it out of life of poverty. It's my way of giving back to the community which is something that was instilled deeply in me during my 3yrs in Howard's Upward Bound program (HUB).

 

[Nickel]

be Cinderella aboard a Disney cruise ship

Oh, I want to do that!!! I wonder if they'll let me bring my family.

 

[Bustem' Down]

Spent 20 + years in the Navy. Can't recall how many countries/islands I've seen. There's no place like the US, but I would go back to New Zealand in a heartbeat.

No kidding. I'd have no problem moving to England.

 

[Jameo]

I'd love to be a photographer for National Geographic

 

[cattitude]

I live right next door to where I grew up and have plenty of family right in my hood! I LOVE it, and wouldn't change it for the world!

As much of a pain as it can be with families, I love having my family and all of Ott's family close. Makes for great holidays! Our kids are near, which means the grandkids are close.

As for jobs, I never knew what I wanted to do, but I don't mind what I'm doing. I'm happy in my life.

 

[itsbob]

But don't any of you have a dream job that you'd rather be doing than whatever you're doing now? If so, what is it? And what's stopping you from pursuing it?

This may not be dream job to many, and it's not quite there yet, but I'm getting closer..

When I graduated HS I wanted to get a degree in CS.. 20 years later I finally got started, (at the age of 38) and finished my degree in three years, which led me to the job I have now, in the area I live in now.

I've lived in MANY places having been born in NC, and taking a boat to Germany in my fist year. I've lived in several states, and didn't just visit Europe or Germany but lived there for more then 12 years. THIS area has been the best place to live so far.

The job I currently have lets me travel a little bit, but I don't have to worry about ever moving again. This isn't the field I hoped to be in, but maybe someday in the near future I'll be working on systems I want to be working on, and maybe even making a difference.

The best job I ever had was working in a Video Store, one on one with customers, and actually getting to know people on the otehr side of the counter, but you can't raise a family on what that pays.

This may not ba a "Fantasy" job, but I know I have it better off then probably 75% of the population as far as job satisfaction, work environment, and the place I live. That's good enough for me!

 

[cattitude]

Petco in PF is hiring dog washers...I think that would be a great job. I'd love to have some sort of rescue thingy..but that doesn't make much $$.

 

[SamSpade]

But don't any of you have a dream job that you'd rather be doing than whatever you're doing now? If so, what is it? And what's stopping you from pursuing it?

When I was on my honeymoon, I talked at length with the cruise staff. Working on a cruise ship is only glamorous on TV. While most of them didn't hate their job, the hours are long - and you never really leave your job - because home is your workplace. About the only people who really loved their jobs were the people like the masseuses, who would be doing the same thing no matter where they were and had very specific hours. They don't usually get to leave the ship when it docks - so a lot of the "travel" isn't there for them. Try to imagine working in a hotel and never getting to even LEAVE it, not even to go across the street.

I did know people in college who lived in Orlando and worked at Disney - one at Space Mountain, the other as an extra in that daily parade. The parade guy HATED it. He liked being in Florida, being at Disney - but sometimes when someone told him how much FUN it would be - he'd stand up and do a partnerless "dance" that he must have done a million times all the while rolling his eyes, smirking, smiling beatifically as if to say "wouldn't YOU love to do this fifty times a day?". Space Mountain guy I knew MUCH longer. His work was also dull, and he would talk about how at night he still had to walk the tracks and clear trash and debris.

So it's perspective, I guess.

I remember going to a shop in Ocean City and they were playing Aretha. I said something like "I could listen to Aretha all day". He answered "try ALL SUMMER; it's the only CD we play".

The only gig I know that someone thought was just too good was once I heard Jerry Doyle (afternoon talk show host, 570 AM opposite Hannity) mention acting...paraphrasing "I'm being paid an OBSCENE amount of money to say five lines a day and get pampered 24 hours a day while I live in a trailer they give me. Acting is hard work?".

 

[Nickel]

They don't usually get to leave the ship when it docks - so a lot of the "travel" isn't there for them.

Really? When we took a Carnival cruise, the crew informed us that they receive discounts on excursion packages and are encouraged to take advantage of that so that they can recommend them to guests.

 

[Elle]

Really? When we took a Carnival cruise, the crew informed us that they receive discounts on excursion packages and are encouraged to take advantage of that so that they can recommend them to guests.

I don't know about discounts but on RC the staff we talked to gets time off; they can leave the ship or stay on board, their choice. If they leave they do have to be back like an hour before all passengers but they still have the option of leaving. I admit it's not a glamorous job but if I were fresh out of school and had nothing to tie me down, why not give it a try. The pay isn't great but your lodging and a food portion is given.

 

[CMC122]

I would love to be the idiot journalist giving the report on the beach as the hurricane is hitting land!


I also have a gypsy soul but have only lived in Maryland, my husband just can't seem to get away from his family. I on the other hand am always ready to jump into something new, pack up house and go Life's too short to be in one place all the time!

 

[SamSpade]

I don't know about discounts but on RC the staff we talked to gets time off; they can leave the ship or stay on board, their choice. If they leave they do have to be back like an hour before all passengers but they still have the option of leaving. I admit it's not a glamorous job but if I were fresh out of school and had nothing to tie me down, why not give it a try. The pay isn't great but your lodging and a food portion is given.

We were on Royal Caribbean. I imagine that jobs like wine steward or entertainer or cruise director or photographer might be fun - most of the staff we spoke to mentioned they'd barely been off the boat in six months. And there were only so many jobs running craps tables or serving drinks - the bulk of the staff did all the other menial tasks or worked all night running the ship.

I simply gathered that it would be as 'fun' a job as you choose to make it, but fun is relative. I can't think of even one person I've known who had a job I would think would be 'fun' that didn't tell me stories to make me realize - nope, not doing that.

My best friend is about to be an adoptive father (as I will be soon) but he's still under the mistaken impression that it will be fun and mostly easy - based on experiences baby-sitting nieces. It's kind of the same thing, here.

 

[PelyKat]

I have already had my dream job (Owned a Homebased Travel Agency); Lived in Germany and Italy; Had my family all within 3 miles of me-they moved to Bel Air when we lived there years ago; Have lived in 5 states, and visited most of the rest; And have visited 26 countries.

I am Extremely Lucky! and am living my Dream Life! It hasn't always been easy, but it was Never Boring. Now that I have Retired...we continue to Travel. Singapore in Nov., Crete in April , Scotland next Oct. My H is on some International Science Panels.

I think it would be fun to be a travel writer. But I tend to have a very quirky take on it all. And haven't found anyone who is interested in my style yet. Sort of a Erma Bombeck look at travel. So I might just start a Blog and do it that way. We'll see. I'm not in a hurry about it. I'll be 51 in a few weeks, the sun is in the sky, and life is good!

 

[Nickel]

Sort of a Erma Bombeck look at travel.

That would be a hoot. I'd pay to hear the lighter side of travel, rather than just reading a travel guide with the star and dollar sign code.

 

[PelyKat]

thanks, I'll let you know if I ever get around to it!

 

[Christy]

My dream job would be to work for National Geographic or the Travel Channel. Actually, any job that would send me all over the world. :shrug:

When I was growing up in WV, I swore I'd never leave, couldn't get much better than where I was at. Boy was I wrong. I'm glad I was fortunate enough to spend some years in the military seeing new places. I am hoping my kids have seen enough of the world to peak their interest and want to travel and see it while they are young and can just pick up and go at their leisure.

 

[Elle]

We were on Royal Caribbean. I imagine that jobs like wine steward or entertainer or cruise director or photographer might be fun - most of the staff we spoke to mentioned they'd barely been off the boat in six months. And there were only so many jobs running craps tables or serving drinks - the bulk of the staff did all the other menial tasks or worked all night running the ship.

We had late seating dinner and were never finished until well after 10, so who knows what time the people that cleaned up after us got out of there. Yet, every morning, no matter how early, we'd see them in the WindJammer serving breakfast. I'd have to choose carefully which job I did but do think there are possibilities.

 

[Pete]

Did Gopher ever score on Love boat?

 

[BadGirl]

My dream job would be to work for National Geographic or the Travel Channel.

And old boyfriend worked for the Travel Channel. It must have been awesome for him to go to all these great resorts and report back on the best activities, the best restaurants, the best beaches, etc. I went with him once out to San Francisco and we were stuck out there due to the SF earthquake - the airport was closed and he was delayed in getting to his next assignment in Belize and St. Lucia.

 

[itsbob]

Did Gopher ever score on Love boat?

He waited until he became a Senator, then took the crack-whore Julie over the desk in his office...

At least that's what I heard..